[sims] Microsoft Security Patch causing issues with SIMS7 Date Picker

[Sir]

@Meldrew @DrCheese

I have the Date Selector Patch EXE. Our council uses SOLUS 2 so it is up to me to manually to apply this fix to my 60 ish teaching machines. Could you give me any tips as to which the the relevant files are to copy to machines from this EXE? Or are you extracting different files from SOLUS 3 to copy over in a script?

[clockend25]

Should this patch now be available in SOLUS3?

[PhilNeal]

Yes if your support team has released it.

[clockend25]

Last advise I was given was to download it from My Account and import it into SOLUS. I'll call them again.

[divadiow]

Yep, I found that too. You can specify the usual /s switch, but it'll still pop up a message suggesting a restart. I decided to extract the files from solus3, then just use a batch file to deploy the new files to workstations. There'll be some users who won't get updated as the files are in use, but for us at least there aren't that many people that are being affected, so anyone who reports the issue I'll tell them to exit SIMS while I reapply.

 

Meldrew.

 

good thinking. copied and turned into Centrastage component that kills pulsar.exe and copies the patched files to progfiles\sims\sims.net or progfilesx86\sims\sims.net depending on the OS.

[vikpaw]

good thinking. copied and turned into Centrastage component that kills pulsar.exe and copies the patched files to progfiles\sims\sims.net or progfilesx86\sims\sims.net depending on the OS.

Would this affect logged in users who might be in the middle of an unsaved marksheet full of report comments?

[divadiow]

Would this affect logged in users who might be in the middle of an unsaved marksheet full of report comments?

 

Yes. reactively deploying to users who've reported the issue. user will be told Sims needs to be closed or will be closed

[vikpaw]

Cool, just checking it wasn't a blanket policy set to run at a given time. I only do that when it's upgrade time

[pete]

I put it in WPP (SCCM-lite) and tagged it with "requires reboot" to ensure it won't get automatically installed until a) scheduled install time or b) end-user shuts down device). For all but one computer* it's worked without issue.

 

*pulsar.exe was updated, the .dll wasn't.

[matt40k]

If your not using SOLUS3, don't forget to remove any package\script\custom-ness when the next release comes out just in case you end up "updating" the next release.

[pete]

If your not using SOLUS3, don't forget to remove any package\script\custom-ness when the next release comes out just in case you end up "updating" the next release.

 

This is true, recursion sucks.

 

However, Capita are diligent about properly incrementing the pulsar.exe version in patches, so as long as you've got an install test that's something like:

 

"If \\(32bitpathgoeshere)\Pulsar.exe or \\64bitpathgoeshere\Pulsar.exe version is 7.162.23.4 or greater, do nothing"

 

you should be fine.

[matt40k]

However, Capita are diligent about properly incrementing the pulsar.exe version in patches

 

Not worried about this, its automated.

 

so as long as you've got an install test that's something like:

 

This is the bit I worry about, I'd hope Capita Patch includes the "check version" or that'll be very embarrassing for them

[kidpressingbuttons]

Thank you so much for this- really wasn't in the mood to sit on the phone to Capita!

[Damon]

@Meldrew @DrCheese

I have the Date Selector Patch EXE. Our council uses SOLUS 2 so it is up to me to manually to apply this fix to my 60 ish teaching machines. Could you give me any tips as to which the the relevant files are to copy to machines from this EXE? Or are you extracting different files from SOLUS 3 to copy over in a script?

 

Run the exe and install to a temp directory (e.g. C:\Datapickerfix). It will extract the two files that are updated in the SIMS client directory so you can use that for a rollout via AD. As has been stated already, you can't apply this when running SIMS or any third party apps that use the particular dll (schoolcomms, et cetera). Subsequently, I'd apply it as a startup or logon script.

 

FYI - for those who use Centrastage - You can use PV.exe to periodically check if pulsar is running, then apply the fix when it's closed.

[Sir]

Run the exe and install to a temp directory (e.g. C:\Datapickerfix). It will extract the two files that are updated in the SIMS client directory so you can use that for a rollout via AD. As has been stated already, you can't apply this when running SIMS or any third party apps that use the particular dll (schoolcomms, et cetera). Subsequently, I'd apply it as a startup or logon scri

 

FYI - for those who use Centrastage - You can use PV.exe to periodically check if pulsar is running, then apply the fix when it's closed.

 

Thanking you indeed. ..I'll get on this as soon as I get back from leave.

[Priya_Shah]

The easiest way we have found to deploy the Date Picker Fix is to add the following to the Login Script.

 

cd S:\SIMS\PATCHES\SIMSDATEPICKERFIX\ (Amend as necessary)

 

 

SIMS-2015-Spring-Date-Selector-Patch.EXE /s